DATE TASTED: January 1, 2015... GLASSWARE: Victory nonick... OCCASION: New Year’s hosting--a good start to the year.. APPEARANCE: dark mahogany body; quickly thinning, off-white head; reasonable tracing like archipelagos... AROMA: rather earthy and peaty, almost like a porter in its brackishness; some sugary notes too, but otherwise, understated... PALATE: flat, heavy, medium-bodied; mildly effervescent and filling; slightly oily...TASTE: hints of toasted of some caramel, and muted hops; toffee is at the finish--subtle but enjoyable... OVERALL: a serviceable brown that drinks smoothly from the growler; indicative of of the genre but not outstanding...

Poured into a pint glass at 50 degrees
full review at http://lownobudgetreviews.wordpress.com/2013/05/07 (Ryan’s Reviews)
In general, I’m not a fan of brown ales. I think they are… well… kind of boring. ANTLER pours a rich mahogany brown that lets off some red tones when held up to the light, and is a bit more visually appealing than many brown ales I’ve had. It’s capped with a fluffy off-white head that dissipates pretty rapidly and leaves just a bit of lacing behind.
Taking a whiff, there is just not too much there. There is some nice maltiness, and a bit of nice medium body to the aroma. The taste is a pretty average brown ale flavor to me; the malt has a medium balance to it, neither too dark and astringent nor too light and golden. There are some hops on the back end, not much bitterness, and almost no hop aroma to speak of. The flavor has just a hit of nut – like walnut or hazelnut – and a very mild caramel undertone, which I wished were more pronounced.
ANTLER is pretty thin and smooth, with very light carbonation, and not nearly as substantial as it looks. The body of the beer was not too much heavier than water, which for many would be a good thing; this makes ANTLER a very easy to drink beer, if this is your style. For me, brown ales are just not something I really enjoy, and ANTLER didn’t do too much to change my mind.

On draught at the brewery. Poured a dark copper color with thin white head, very light lacing. Aroma is real weak with maple syrup and nuttyness. The carbonation was light and the mouth feel was very watery, lacking any kind of real body. Very one dimensional.

Had on draft at the brewery. Pours a clear light brown with minimal head. Aroma is sweet but a bit stale. Flavor very watery and sweet. Straw/hay taste present. Reminds me of an extract homebrew clone of newcastle, though some of my homebrews have been much better.

On draught at the brewery: Poured a clear copper colour with not a whole lot of fizz. thin off white head. aroma is somewhere between maple syrup and butterscotch. Sweet smell, but taste comes across a little dull. Nice taste, but a little boring.

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